Agnes Antonian

Practice Areas

An experienced environmental law attorney, Agnes advises clients on complex litigation, corporate governance, transactions, regulatory compliance and land use challenges.

Her environmental litigation work spans the full spectrum of federal and state environmental law. Agnes represents potentially responsible parties in federal and state court and alternative dispute resolution forums in government and private cost-recovery litigation involving:

Superfund (CERCLA)

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

Clean Water Act (CWA)

New Jersey Spill Act

Agnes leverages her engineering and corporate background to counsel businesses in multiple sectors, including the utilities, energy, construction, real estate and manufacturing industries, on a full range of legal issues involving the environment and corporate sustainability.

She counsels clients on compliance with state hazardous substances, land use and air permitting regulations and represents them in enforcement actions by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). Agnes also advises clients regarding federal environmental laws, including Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) enforcement of Superfund. In addition, she helps businesses navigate corporate regulatory issues, including in the area of environmental, social and governance (ESG) requirements.

Agnes is well-versed in developing issues related to environmentally sensitive real estate, including wetlands and coastal areas regulated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Agnes advises owners, tenants, buyers and developers on redeveloping brownfields and other contaminated sites covered by ISRA. She also represents developers and property owners in challenges to adverse rulings by state and federal regulators, including the NJDEP and the USACE.

She speaks frequently on evolving regulatory, land use and climate related issues.

Professional Memberships

New Jersey State Bar Association | American Bar Association | Commerce and Industry Group of New Jersey, Board of Directors (2021-present) | Wynona's House Child Advocacy Center, Board of Directors (2018-present)

Languages Spoken

Polish

Career

Agnes joined us from a regional law firm where she was Chair of the Environmental Practice Group. Prior to that, Agnes completed a judicial clerkship for the Honorable Katharine S. Hayden of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Before entering the legal profession, Agnes worked for Keyspan Energy Corp. There, she managed the company’s environmentally impaired properties and oversaw Keyspan’s environmental compliance.

Agnes was appointed to the Supreme Court of New Jersey District Ethics Committee for Essex County from 2011 to 2015.

Since 2018, Agnes has served on the board of Wynona’s House Child Advocacy Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting justice and providing healing for child victims of abuse and neglect in Essex County.

Education